December 1, 2010

Boy Eats Drum Machine was by far my favorite find off the PDX Pop Now! Compilation. "Hoop + Wire" (mp3) and "Constellations". are perfect pop confections. Their bouncing hooks make me smile every time. The electronic island beats pleasantly linger in my head, subtly brightening my day. Not surprisingly, the rest of the album doesn't reach those same towering heights. However, there is plenty to love in this collection lo-fi electronic pop. The majority of the songs are built around simple catchy loop and filled out with well timed bloops and beeps. I particularly like all the horn samples used in "Syncopated" and "Gold In The Hills". While obviously not a capella, the album makes good use of vocal samples, like on "Lolo Forest," which soars over percussive bass vocals. In fact, the chorus of "We Make Our Own Light" reminds of a doo-wop song I can't quite remember, celebrating the timeless joys of DIY.